PIRATES STAY ON TOP DESPITE DRAW
The weekend’s Absa Premiership action saw just one home win from eight matches across the country, while Orlando Pirates continue to lead the table despite playing to a 0-0 stalemate in their heavyweight bout with Mamelodi Sundowns.
The round opened on Friday night with an entertaining 2-2 draw between Maritzburg United and Highlands Park at Harry Gwala Stadium, with the Lions of the North twice fighting back to deny the Team of Choice a first home win of the season.
The weekend’s supposed blockbuster game between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates ended in a goalless draw which will be better remembered for a fracas between the benches rather than anything on the pitch, while Kaizer Chiefs’ 0-0 with Chippa United (albeit behind closed doors at Moses Mabhida Stadium) was equally disappointing.
Baroka FC will be anything but disappointed with their showing on Saturday afternoon as they claimed a 2-1 away win over Golden Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium thanks to goals from Jemondre Dickens and Vusi Sibiya.
Theirs was the first of three away wins on the day, as the night games in Bethlehem and Johannesburg both saw the visitors triumph: James Keene scored the only goal as SuperSport United edged Free State Stars 1-0, while Tshegofatso Mabaso netted two late strikes to see Bloemfontein Celtic come from behind to beat Bidvest Wits 2-1.
The only home win arrived in Cape Town, where Benni McCarthy’s City hit three goals for the second league game in succession to defeat Black Leopards 3-1, while struggling AmaZulu remain rooted to the foot of the table after they could only draw 0-0 at home to Polokwane City.
The Absa Premiership will return after the international break with midweek fixtures on 27-28 November.
Absa Premiership results, 9-11 November
FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER
Maritzburg United 2-2 Highlands Park
SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER
Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Orlando Pirates
Golden Arrows 1-2 Baroka FC
Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Chippa United
Free State Stars 0-1 SuperSport United
Bidvest Wits 1-2 Bloemfontein Celtic
SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER
AmaZulu 0-0 Polokwane City
Cape Town City 3-1 Black Leopards
